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Makan – No. 148
Aug/Sept. 1961

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

Andy Noble was laid up for a considerable time some months ago with hepatitis. We believe he is quite recovered now after a very bad time. Blue Peterson is still living at Fairy Meadow. We have also heard from Ikey Isaacs of Bankstown. Freddie Butt of Artarmon, is still working for John Sands. Newsy letters are not that plentiful these days and one from Harry Holden of Cooma is most interesting. Here it is a:

"Enclosed please find cheque for £2 plus exchange to cover cost of two 2/30 ties. On second thoughts I'd better make the amount £2.2.6 to be sure you're not out of pocket. I'm one of those Association (Life) members who has been out of circulation for some time & Stan might be pleased to learn how things are with me.

Mrs. Ellis, I knew your husband very well and a finer man one could not hope to meet. Please accept my sincere if very belated sympathy. However, you must know that Reg achieved a degree of respect & affection from his fellow men that few of us ever do, and I am sure this thought is of great comfort to you. Your dedication to the work he began shows this and I know Reg and the rest of us are proud of you.

It was a great shock to me to learn of the untimely death of Cyril Pluis, a man of rare quality like Reg though, of course younger and of an athletic bent. I just can't believe that Pluis is dead. He was of the indestructible kind and so full of life.

I receive "Makan" regularly and am grateful to all you good folk who have a hand in "cooking" and forwarding it. I've some experience in keeping things going long after others have given them up so I can appreciate the worth of the sustained efforts of yourself and the few who keep the Association alive. I've been in this (Cooma) area since 1946 and am in business as a construction contractor and grazier. At present I'm local R.S.L. President (Sub-Branch has 360 members) and a member of Cooma Legacy. At various times I have been Treasurer, Vice-President and President of the latter. I have also served the R.S.L. as Vice-President and Publicity Officer and am a Sub-Branch Trustee. Also for a period of 3 years I was Hon. Sec. of Cooma Ex-Serviceman's Club (700 members),

In addition I have been on various committees and sub-committees around town connected with community services. So you can see Mrs. Ellis, I'm pretty well tied down and I offer this as a reason for my long silence and failure to play any active part in the Association's affairs. However, for the past 3-4 years I have assisted in organising 8th Div. Reunions in this area and one year we had as guests Lieut Gen. H. Gordon Bennet & Col. "Gentleman George" Ramsay.

Anzac Day is a big day in Cooma and as Sub-Branch President I have to be here. The whole town turns out at dawn and 11 a.m. ceremonies and the R.S.L. has a formal Dinner from 12.30 p.m. onwards. Naturally I have to chair this so cannot go to Sydney for the March as I would love to do. Still, the time will come when I'll heed my wife's gentle insistence that I give them away for a spell and then I'll be free to enjoy an Anzac Day reunion with my old 2/30th friends. Would you please notify me of Ray Donald's address? It's Liverpool, I think. His initials are R.T. I've seen the cairn at Bathurst and think it's very nicely done. Maintenance is the problem of course, and great vigilance will be necessary over the years. A neat little memorial in a fairly remote spot spells great temptation to vandalism. Cheerio, Mrs. Ellis, and many thanks from yet another 2/30 man for your interest in our affairs. Sincerely, Harry Holden.

A new member is Frank Ball of Rushcutters Bay. Frank is an ex-member of H.Q. Coy and now works s a permanent caretaker. Welcome to the Association, Frank! Ross Madden collected some cash from Harry Bullen, ex A. Coy, and sent it to us. Harry Bullen lives at Armidale and has not been sighted by most of us since the war. It would be interesting to see him at a reunion or march.

We don't often hear from Jackie Conn who is at Uralgurra, via Kempsey. An extract from his letter also makes interesting reading:

"The arrival of my last "Makan" reminded me with a jolt that I had completely forgotten to order my tie, so I am immediately enclosing it with this note hoping I am not too late as I would very much like one. Afraid I'm not much of a letter writer but that doesn't mean that I'm not keenly interested in the doings of the individual boys and of the Association, and would like to take this opportunity of complimenting you on the grand job you are doing for the Association. Hope to get down one of these days to one of their Do’s as they sure sound great. Have had some terrific frosts this way lately and the country looks very browned and wintry. My wife, Agnes and self are trying to make a shilling dairying and vealers and hope one day to be able to pay off our place and relax a little, as we generally milk between 50 and 60 cows which doesn't leave a great deal of time for relaxation and pleasures, but am not grumbling as my health is fair and we couldn't be happier with our small family."

REGIMENTAL TIES

The ties have been a greater success than we anticipated. Our original order was for 196, the minimum number for which a "weave" will be made. The number appeared too high for us but, with no alternative, we ordered on the basis of an immediate delivery of 12 dozen with a later delivery of the balance of 52 ties. Well, the first twelve dozen have gone and we will take delivery of the balance shortly. However, these will be the last ties we will ever have made as we could never hope to sell another two hundred. If you want a tie, then order it now before it is too late.

Same months ago now we received a letter from our friend Ashley Pascoe. I was in the process of shifting my residence at the time and misplaced the letter. However, we found it and after reading it have come to the conclusion that Ashley Pascoe has more energy than most people. Here's why:

"Well, you're always asking for news of members, so here goes. I'm in business now on my account as a Nurseryman of Belfield. I took over at the beginning of February this year. It was pretty run down but I've put a fair bit of cash into it and have now a pretty good stock in hand - seedlings, shrubs, pots, sprays, etc.

One Saturday morning I was dishing out the goods when a chappie arrived and wanted some cabbage or something, "Hello" he said, “I've seen you before somewhere." My evil past rose up in front of me. However, to cut a long story short, I found that he was an ex Army man, ex 8th Div. Malaya and it turned out to be Arnie Ferry. Of course, I hadn't seen him since Changi days so far as I know, so I reckon that was a pretty fair effort of Arnie's - especially when we realise that he would only know me since the return of F Force to Changi in the latter days of '43. Well so much for that. Among other things I'm Treasurer of the Belfield R.S.L. Club in my second term. As we don't employ a paid Secretary/Manager it takes up quite a bit of my time, at least three nights a week and Saturday afternoons. As an astute Treasurer I don't play the Bandits - only empty them. I find it pays well. I represent the Sub-Branch on the far Southern Metropolitan Council of which I'm Treasurer also. Now I'm one of the two representatives of Southern who sit on the War Compensation and Repatriation Committee which as its name suggests deals with all the matters appertaining to the Repatriation and reports to State Branch of the R.S.L. It's just as well we have T.V., otherwise my wife would have cut my throat and cleared out with the baker ages ago, considering how often she is left to her own devices.

Yes, I guess it's a good idea re ties, I'm sending a cheque for £2 for a couple. I consider it an honour to wear them. On second thoughts I'll pay for three - you can send me two and retain one; when some silly b-- writes in to you twelve months hence you can use his quid as a donation. Savvy? Perhaps there may be a few other members who would do likewise. Don't think I'm affluent whatever - as a matter of fact my earnings are sub-zero at present - I fancy too many dimwits are feeding the Bandits around here. But I'm prompted to make the offer by para - definitely "No Repeat Orders" and I wouldn't like to sea anyone miss out by being Late on Parade."

A welcome to Allan John Andrew ex B. Coy, better known to you brutes as "Dick" Andrews. Dick has felt the need for a renewal of old friendships and has written from Bethungra, N.S.W. It would be nice if Dick could make the next re-union.

Bert Farr of Rose Bay, is Secretary of the A.I.F. Swimming Association - a job that keeps him pretty busy. Bert has just paid enough in subs to keep him a little ahead instead of a little behind.

Now here's a man who was well respected, one who liked and was liked but one who has not been seen for years. We speak of Jack Maclay who lives at Rydalmere. Jack is a keen 30th man and writes fairly regularly of his appreciation of "Makan" BUT we never see him! Perhaps for this reunion he will come out of his shell. Tommy Kennedy is still living at Adamstown, Newcastle. Basher Clayton has returned to work after five weeks, during which time he was operated on for what was to be a simple operation but which turned out to be much more serious. Basher is a fairly tough man as you know, and is on the job again now at full pressure.

Jimmy Hart, ex Band, has written from Melbourne that he will be coming to the reunion this year. He says that he has never been to a function with the Unit since the war and definitely cannot afford to come, but his wife has insisted that make the trip and he is looking forward to meeting old friends again.

Snowy Stevens - the one and only Snowy missed a Committee Meeting recently. He made the rather lame excuse that he was a patient at Yaralla Hospital at the time, but the Committee took a rather dim view of his excuse. For an ordinary person his explanation would have been accepted but for a man such as Snowy who crawled out from his fight with a motor car after the 1957 reunion and then bounced back so quickly, they were not so sure. Snowy is back on deck again. We believe that he used the Hospital as a period of rest prior to the cricket season.

This "Makan" is late in its issue in order that it may be received by you within a reasonable distance of the reunion. Your next "Makan" will be issued half way through November - before the reunion.

Once again we ask you to please let us know, if you can, if you will be attending the reunion. If you cannot let us know, then don't worry - just come anyway.

See you at the Reunion!!!

STAN ARNEIL.

ANNUAL REUNION DINNER

You will already have received your first notice of our next reunion which will be held on Saturday, 11th Nov., commencing at 6.30 p.m. Anthony Hordern's will be the venue - entrance from a small lane in George Street on the Quay side of Anthony Hordern's’.

You all know what a great success last year's dinner was and it is expected that this year 'a dinner will be equally as well attended, perhaps better! Last year many members had a few noggins at the local hotels prior to coming to the dinner. This year we ask you to try to be at Anthony Hordern's’ by 6.00 p.m. in order that we way get into the hall and sort ourselves out by 6.30 p.m.

The cost of the dinner will be £2 per head. The price could be called "a bit steep" but that is the bare cost to the Association without a shilling to spare. The re-action to my queries on the cost last year, was that in previous years members had met prior to the reunion and spent up to 30/- each on a meal and a few drinks before getting to the reunion, anyway.

P.S. Battalion Colours

The Committee is deciding on quotes for a new set of Battalion Colours to replace our fifteen-year-old banner. It is a big job but we hope to advise you shortly of the results of our work in this regard.

S.A.

ANNUAL REUNION – SATURDAY, 18TH NOVEMBER.

(Dig in, Dig. It's gunner be BIG!)

don't forget the dinner

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